Bean-assorter.



, R. P. MGWILLIAMS.

BEAN Ass'omz.

APPLIUATION FILED APB.. 3, 1912. 1,080,988-, Patented De.9,1913.

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Wi/tweooveor- R. F. MOWILLIAMS.

BEAN ASSORTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1912.

1,980,988. Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

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Specicaticn of Letters Patent.

,- applicaties mee April a, 191e. serial matassa.

resented nee. e, isis.

linvention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in bean assorters and the object of my invention is to provide a machlne in which the good and poor beans are separated as they fall from a discharge spout b y a swinging chute the movement ofwhlch .is caused by the varying intensity of electric current, the intensity of which is varied by light reflected from the surface of the beans upon some substance which changes its electric resistance under the influence of llght, as for instance a selenium cell.

With these and other objects in view', my invention will be more specilically pointed out in the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of my device and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are 'attached to and form a part of this application.

.In the drawings, Figure 1 is a, side elevation of my complete device.. Fig. 2 isa lon itudinal section of the same showing the posltion of the chute uponthe passage of a good bean. Fig. 3 is a top plan of my de-v vice. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectionshowing the position of the chute upon the passage of a poor bean.

Refer-rin more specically to the drawings, in w ich similar reference numerals desi ate corresponding parts throughout, 10 ddlsi ates a suitable su porting frame uponA w ich is positioned a opper 11 having inclined side and end Walls and a bottom 12 which is provided at one end with a relativel small discharge opening 13. Journale frame 10 are spaced parallel shafts 14 and 15 provided with pulleys 16 and `17 over which is passed a belt 18, which belt, as shown, bears againstthe bottom of the hopper in alinement with its discharge opening.

This belt is provided throughout its engt upon its outer face, with a gplurality o spaced pockets or chambers 190i suitable size to receive a single bean passed through in suitable bearings carried by the lthe discharge opening of the hopper-,thus

roviding a mechanism for discharging thev eans one ata time. The belt may be actuated hy the application of any su-itable form of power applied to one of the shafts as for 4 instance, by means of the pulley 20 and belt 21.

Supported by the frame and in position to 4 receive the beans as they vfall from the belt 18 is a discharge spout 22 through which the beans pass on their Way to the receptacles 23 and 24, the passage of the beans to these receptacles being governed by a swinging chute 25 pivoted to the lower end of the spout. As will be seen, when the chute loccupies the position shown inFig. 2,"'the beans will pass to the receptacle 23 while when the chute occupies the position shown in Fig. 4.

the beans will be deflected to the receptacle 24. l

My'invention consists primarily in providing means whereby the\passage of the y beans, either good or poorfrom the spout will automatically cause th'ei chute to swing to the proper position for'] directing each bean to its proper receptacle. As a means for accomplishing this l provide an electromagnet 26 having an armature27 whichis pivoted intermediate its length upon a supporting standard 28 and which is normally held out of engagement with the magnet by means of a spring 29. Extending vertically upward from the pivotal point cia this armature and preferably formed integrally with vthe armature is an arm 30 the upper end of p which is ivotally connected to one end of a connecting rod 31 the other end of which is pivotally connected to the free end of the chute.v As shown in the drawings this connecting rod is so proportioned that when the armature is in raised position the chute occupies the position shown in Fig. 4 in which position the beans will be directedto the receptacle 24 which is for poor beans. When upon thev other hand, the armature is attractedby the magnet the -chute is swung to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position, the beans are directed to the receptacle 23 which is fory good beans. As a means for actuating this magnet I have provided spme substance ithe electric resistance of which changes under the infiuence of light, such as a selenium cell and this cell, as shown, is positioned within vthe spout 22 as at 32 in such a' manner that the bean upon {tassing from the spout .will reect'light upon the cell and so decrease its-resistance.

As is well known good beans have a white,

glossy surface and will therefore reflect considerable light While poor beans have a dark dull surface and do not rellectlight. It will therefore be seen that the resistance of the cell will vary in proportion to the quality of the bean. A conductor 33 connects this cell withone pole of a battery 34 while a conductor 35 .connects the cell with one binding post of the electromagnet. A conductor 3G connects the other pole of the battery 34 to the other binding post of the magnet,v

thus forming a circuit through the selenium cell which is of such delicacy that a good bean will relectsuiricient light to reduce the resistance of said lcell suliciently to permit the passage of a current heavy enough to energize the magnet, while a poor bean will not reiect enough light.

In operation the beans are placed in the hopper 11, the lbelt is started and the eircuit is closed by a suitable switch' 37. As

previously described the beans are conveyed bv the belt to the spout through which they pass one at a time, reflecting a varying amount of light upon the selenium cell and thus varying yits resistance in such'a manner as to control the movement of the 'chute and effectively 'sort the beans.

Although I have described the resistance element 'of my device as consisting of a selenium cell it will of course be understood that other substances may be substitutedif desired and that minor changes' in details of construction may be made, without in the slightest degree departing from the spirit of my invention'.

`1. A device of the character described,

comprising a spout, means for delivering particles differentiated as to light reflecting ablevto direct the particles upon their passage from the same, means including an elec- 1 tric circuit -for moving said chute, and .means actuated by the light reflected from the particles for varying the current in said circuit. p

3. An assorter for particles differentiated as to light reflecting power, comprising a hopper having a-discharge opening, an end' less belt movable beneath said opening and provided with pockets proportioned to receive a single particle, a spout positioned to receive the particles as they pass from saidbelt, a movable chute-pivoted to the lower end of said spout and means dependent upon the quality of the particles passing from the spout for swinging said chute, said means comprising a selenium cell positioned in the spout andadapted to receive light reected from' the particles, a battery circuit including said cell, an electromagnet in said cir-A cuit, an armature for said magnet, and connecting means between said armature and chute. y

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

RAY F. MCWILLIAMS.

Witnesses: f

MYRNA H. GRIsWoLD CLYDE HUNT. 

